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The Most Common Traditional Chinese Characters

The 4,974 most common characters in Taiwan, ranked by how often they appear in the COCT 通用詞頻表, a traditional-script word-frequency corpus from Taiwan's National Academy for Educational Research. Learn them top-down and you cover the most ground fastest.

top 100
39.0%
top 1,000
89.1%
top 2,500
98.6%

cumulative share of the COCT corpus covered by its most frequent characters

Traditional characters, ranks 1–100

4,974 characters · page 1 of 50
  1. #1的de·˙ㄉㄜGrammatical particle indicating possession or modifying a noun; used to form nominal expressions; can also indicate affirmation or emphasis at the end of a sentence.TOCFL Novice 1
  2. #2一yī·ㄧThe number one; single; a; as soon as; entire; whole; all; a "one" radical in Chinese characters; also used for clarity when spelling out numbers.TOCFL Novice 1
  3. #3是shì·ㄕˋTo be; yes; correct; right; true; to affirm; to acknowledge; a surname; a thing; indeed.TOCFL Novice 1
  4. #4不bù·ㄅㄨˋFunction word; no; not; un-; negative prefix; used to form questions or emphasize a statement; sometimes used for rhythm.TOCFL Novice 1
  5. #5有yǒu·ㄧㄡˇTo have; to exist; to possess; to own; abundant; plentiful; old; intentional; a bound form indicating possession or accompaniment.TOCFL Novice 1
  6. #6在zài·ㄗㄞˋTo exist; to be located at or in a place; to be in the process of doing something; to depend on; to observe.TOCFL Novice 2
  7. #7人rén·ㄖㄣˊperson; people; mankind; human being; someone else; other people; each person; a certain type or identity of person; character or disposition; surname.TOCFL Novice 1
  8. #8我wǒ·ㄨㄛˇPronoun; first-person singular: I, me, my; also we, us, our in compounds and formal usage.TOCFL Novice 1
  9. #9他tā·ㄊㄚFunction word; third-person singular pronoun: he, him, his; also means other, another; separate; different.TOCFL Novice 1
  10. #10了le·˙ㄌㄜParticle indicating completed action or change of state; to finish; to understand; completely; to become clear.TOCFL Novice 1
  11. #11大dà·ㄉㄚˋBig; large; great; vast; elder; eldest; important; profound; to a great extent; to emphasize; (dialect) father or uncle.TOCFL Novice 1
  12. #12這zhè·ㄓㄜˋPronoun: this; these; referring to people, things, time, or places nearby; demonstrative adjective; adverb: immediately; particle: used in sentences without meaning.TOCFL Novice 1
  13. #13為wèi·ㄨㄟˋTo do; to act; to make; to become; to be; to serve as; because of; for; by (passive voice marker).TOCFL Level 3
  14. #14會huì·ㄏㄨㄟˋCan; to be able to; to know how to; to meet; to gather; a meeting; a gathering; a moment; to reckon accounts.TOCFL Novice 2
  15. #15到dào·ㄉㄠˋTo reach or arrive; to go to; until a time or up to a point; a verb complement indicating arrival; thoughtful; thorough.TOCFL Novice 1
  16. #16中zhōng·ㄓㄨㄥCenter; middle; within; among; during; China; Chinese; to hit a target; to win.TOCFL Novice 2
  17. #17個ge·˙ㄍㄜA general-purpose classifier for people or things; individual; single; alone; used in compounds like 'self' or 'height'.TOCFL Novice 1
  18. #18來lái·ㄌㄞˊTo come; to arrive; to return; to happen; to be used as a substitute for a verb; indicating possibility; indicating the future or next time; approximately.TOCFL Novice 1
  19. #19以yǐ·ㄧˇto use; by means of; according to; in order to; because of; to consider as; to lead; to be able to; to makeTOCFL Level 3
  20. #20上shàng·ㄕㄤˋIndicates direction or position, opposite of down; the surface or top of something; to go up; to attend class; previous; superior; to send up.TOCFL Novice 2
  21. #21時shí·ㄕˊtime; when; hour; o'clock; season; period; era; surname ShiTOCFL Level 2
  22. #22年nián·ㄋㄧㄢˊyear; age; harvest; time period; surname Nian surnameTOCFL Novice 1
  23. #23出chū·ㄔㄨTo go out or come out; to arise or occur; to produce or yield; to leave or depart; to give or pay; to appear or manifest.TOCFL Novice 2
  24. #24要yào·ㄧㄠˋto want; to need; to ask for; important; must; should; will; shall; to demand; about toTOCFL Novice 2
  25. #25就jiù·ㄐㄧㄡˋFunction word indicating then or so; immediately; precisely; exactly; only; to approach; to move towards; to undertake; to complete; to go with.TOCFL Novice 1
  26. #26也yě·ㄧㄝˇAlso; too; as well; (not...) either; particle used to indicate affirmation, doubt, or exclamation; also used to link clauses or adjust tone.TOCFL Novice 1
  27. #27說shuō·ㄕㄨㄛto speak; to say; to talk; to explain; to discuss; to scold; to tell off; a theory or doctrine; to arrange a marriageTOCFL Novice 1
  28. #28國guó·ㄍㄨㄛˊCountry; nation; state; land ruled by a sovereign; surname Guo; (bound form) national.TOCFL Novice 1
  29. #29生shēng·ㄕㄥTo grow, give birth, produce, or be born; to live or be alive; life; raw or uncooked; to arise or occur; student; a person's livelihood.TOCFL Level 3
  30. #30們men·˙ㄇㄣPlural marker, usually attached to pronouns or nouns referring to people; indicates more than one.
  31. #31可kě·ㄎㄜˇAble to; can; may; to permit; to approve; suitable; worth; but; however; certainly; very.TOCFL Level 3
  32. #32後hòu·ㄏㄡˋBehind or after in space or time; later; subsequent; future; descendants; the last part; surname.TOCFL Novice 2
  33. #33對duì·ㄉㄨㄟˋCorrect; right; towards; at; for; regarding; to treat; to face; to reply; to match; to compare; to adjust; to suit.TOCFL Novice 1
  34. #34能néng·ㄋㄥˊto be able to; capability; can; energy; to have the strength or ability to do something; a surnameTOCFL Novice 1
  35. #35地dì·ㄉㄧˋEarth; ground; soil; land; place; region; used as a particle to link adverbs to verbs or adjectives.TOCFL Level 1
  36. #36自zì·ㄗˋSelf; oneself; private; personal; from; since; naturally; as a matter of course; surname.TOCFL Level 5
  37. #37成chéng·ㄔㄥˊTo succeed; to finish; to complete; to accomplish; to become; to turn into; to be all right; OK!; surname Cheng; classifier for tenths.TOCFL Level 3
  38. #38家jiā·ㄐㄧㄚHome; house; family; refers to a school of thought; classifier for families or businesses; noun suffix for a specialist; polite term for relatives.TOCFL Novice 1
  39. #39學xué·ㄒㄩㄝˊTo learn or study; to imitate or mimic; knowledge or learning; a school or place of education; a school of thought or doctrine.TOCFL Novice 1
  40. #40過guò·ㄍㄨㄛˋTo pass, go over, or cross; to spend time; to celebrate; to live or get along; excessively; surname.TOCFL Novice 1
  41. #41與yǔ·ㄩˇAnd; with; to; for; to give or grant; to take part in; to agree or allow; to approach or follow.TOCFL Level 3
  42. #42下xià·ㄒㄧㄚˋDown; below; under; to go down; to descend; to fall; to arrive; next; later; measure word for actions.TOCFL Novice 2
  43. #43和hé·ㄏㄜˊAnd; with; together with; sum; to make peace; to tie; harmonious; Japan; Japanese; surname He (warm; moderate; calm; surname)TOCFL Novice 2
  44. #44子zǐ·ㄗˇSon; child; offspring; seed; noun suffix attached to nouns, verbs, adjectives, or classifiers; first of the twelve earthly branches; ancient Chinese compass point for north.
  45. #45多duō·ㄉㄨㄛMany; much; more; a lot of; too many; in excess; often; very; mostly; excessively; (bound form) multi-; poly-TOCFL Novice 2
  46. #46都dōu·ㄉㄡCapital city; metropolis; all; entirely; already; even; (used for emphasis) even; (not) at all; surname Du.TOCFL Novice 1
  47. #47得de·˙ㄉㄜStructural particle linking verb/adjective to effect or degree; to obtain, get, gain; suitable; proud; contented; to allow; must, ought to.TOCFL Novice 1
  48. #48之zhī·ㄓPossessive particle, similar to 的; pronoun for him, her, it, them; verb meaning to go; preposition indicating location or relation.TOCFL Level 4
  49. #49台tái·ㄊㄞˊTaiwan (abbr.); platform; stage; terrace; stand; support; station; classifier for vehicles or machines; desk; table; counter; surname; you (in letters); archaic pronoun for 'I'; archaic interrogative pronoun.TOCFL Level 1
  50. #50發fā·ㄈㄚTo send out or issue; to develop or grow; to start or begin; to inspire or enlighten; to make a profit.TOCFL Level 3
  51. #51而ér·ㄦˊA conjunction connecting clauses or phrases; indicates addition, contrast, or a causal relationship; also used to indicate a change of state.TOCFL Level 3
  52. #52前qián·ㄑㄧㄢˊFront; forward; ahead; preceding; former; before; ago; in the past; future; first in sequence.TOCFL Novice 2
  53. #53心xīn·ㄒㄧㄣThe physical heart; the mind or intellect; feelings or emotions; the center or core of something; intention or will.TOCFL Level 1
  54. #54長zhǎng·ㄓㄤˇlong; length; elder; chief; leader; to grow; to develop; to increase; to enhance; to be good at; surplus; spareTOCFL Novice 2
  55. #55好hǎo·ㄏㄠˇgood; fine; well; okay; suitable; easy to do; very; to like; to be fond of; to have a tendency to; to be prone toTOCFL Novice 1
  56. #56事shì·ㄕˋA thing or matter; an event or incident; work or business; to serve; to do or perform.TOCFL Novice 2
  57. #57作zuò·ㄗㄨㄛˋto do; to make; to write or compose; to act or perform; to pretend; to regard as; to feel (e.g. itchy); worker; workshopTOCFL Level 3
  58. #58行xíng·ㄒㄧㄥˊTo walk, go, travel, move; to do, perform, capable; behavior, conduct; a line, row; a trade, profession; a business firm; a measure word for rows or lines.TOCFL Level 1
  59. #59天tiān·ㄊㄧㄢSky or heaven; the universe; day or a period of time; nature; weather; season.TOCFL Novice 2
  60. #60現xiàn·ㄒㄧㄢˋto appear; to manifest; present; existing; current; now; cash (short for 現金)TOCFL Level 4
  61. #61用yòng·ㄩㄥˋto use; to employ; to apply; to operate; to need; to have to; usefulness; utility; expense; outlay; (literary) hence; thereforeTOCFL Novice 2
  62. #62動dòng·ㄉㄨㄥˋto move or change position; to stir or act; to touch or affect; to use; to start or initiate; to eat; often or usually.TOCFL Level 2
  63. #63於yú·ㄩˊMainly a function word; indicates location (in, at, on); direction (to, toward); relation (with, for); comparison (than); or passive voice (by); also a surname.TOCFL Level 5
  64. #64所suǒ·ㄙㄨㄛˇPlace or location; classifier for buildings or institutions; particle introducing a relative clause or passive construction; that which.TOCFL Level 3
  65. #65你nǐ·ㄋㄧˇPronoun; you (informal, singular); used for both males and females in mainland China; in Taiwan, 妳 is used for females.TOCFL Novice 1
  66. #66小xiǎo·ㄒㄧㄠˇSmall; tiny; few; young; junior; humble self-reference; to belittle; bad person; child; concubine.TOCFL Novice 1
  67. #67方fāng·ㄈㄤsquare; direction; side; place; method; prescription; surname; upright; honest; fair; just when; classifier for square things.TOCFL Level 4
  68. #68開kāi·ㄎㄞTo open or unfasten; to start or begin; to operate a vehicle or machine; to turn on; to write out; to bloom; to boil; to launch; to discover.TOCFL Novice 2
  69. #69日rì·ㄖˋSun; day; daytime; the earth's rotation period; daily; a specific day; Japan (abbr.)TOCFL Novice 2
  70. #70分fēn·ㄈㄣto divide; to separate; to distribute; to allocate; to distinguish; part; share; minute (time); fraction; unit of money or point (in games)TOCFL Novice 1
  71. #71因yīn·ㄧㄣcause; reason; because; by means of; to follow; to inherit; to accumulate
  72. #72但dàn·ㄉㄢˋbut; however; yet; still; only; merely; just; provided that; as long asTOCFL Level 1
  73. #73著zhe·˙ㄓㄜAspect particle indicating action in progress or ongoing state; to wear clothes; to write; to show; a tactic or trick; to touch or feel.TOCFL Novice 2
  74. #74經jīng·ㄐㄧㄥSacred texts or classics; to pass through or undergo; warp threads in weaving; longitude; channel in TCM; menstruation; surname.TOCFL Level 3
  75. #75公gōng·ㄍㄨㄥPublic; common; fair; just; to make public; Duke (nobility); father-in-law; male animal; honorable address for older men or husband's father.
  76. #76法fǎ·ㄈㄚˇLaw; method; way; principle; France; French; (Buddhism) dharma; (physics) farad; used in phrases like 'no way' or 'figure out a way'.
  77. #77她tā·ㄊㄚPronoun; she; her; used for females.TOCFL Novice 1
  78. #78民mín·ㄇㄧㄣˊThe people; citizens; inhabitants of a country; populace; common people; also used as a surname.
  79. #79當dāng·ㄉㄤto hold a position or office; to manage or be in charge; to bear or undertake; to be suitable or appropriate; to face or confront; to be on dutyTOCFL Level 2
  80. #80沒méi·ㄇㄟˊNot; have not; none; to drown; to sink; to end; to disappear; to die; to be submerged.TOCFL Novice 1
  81. #81如rú·ㄖㄨˊAs; like; as if; as though; to go to; to reach; to compare with; to follow; to obey; to conform to; indicating an example.TOCFL Level 3
  82. #82還hái·ㄏㄞˊStill; yet; in addition; also; to return something; to pay back; to repay; to give back; to grant; surname Huan.TOCFL Novice 2
  83. #83看kàn·ㄎㄢˋto see; to look at; to read; to watch; to visit; to consider; to look after; to guard; to tryTOCFL Novice 1
  84. #84去qù·ㄑㄩˋTo go to a place; to leave; to depart; to die (euphemism); to send or remove; to be apart from; used before a verb to indicate going to do something.TOCFL Novice 1
  85. #85然rán·ㄖㄢˊcorrect; right; so; thus; like this; -ly; yes; certainly; pledge; promise; burn; agree
  86. #86那nà·ㄋㄚˋThat; those; the one(s) referred to; then; in that case; (function word) used in questions, similar to 'which' or 'how'.TOCFL Novice 1
  87. #87同tóng·ㄊㄨㄥˊSame; similar; alike; together; with; to gather; to unite; to agree; to share.TOCFL Level 3
  88. #88最zuì·ㄗㄨㄟˋAdverb; to the highest degree; most; extremely; exceedingly; best or most extreme example; sometimes means total or aggregate; can also mean essence or prime; rarely means to gather.TOCFL Novice 2
  89. #89表biǎo·ㄅㄧㄠˇExterior surface; to show or express; a model or example; a table or form; a meter or gauge; a timepiece.TOCFL Level 1
  90. #90新xīn·ㄒㄧㄣNew; newly; fresh; modern; recent; just beginning; a dynasty name; surname Xin; abbr. for Xinjiang or Singapore.TOCFL Novice 2
  91. #91很hěn·ㄏㄣˇAdverb; very; quite; greatly; often used before adjectives without intensifying meaning; also archaic: fierce; dispute; to oppose.TOCFL Novice 1
  92. #92將jiāng·ㄐㄧㄤWill; shall; going to; to take; to hold; to lead; a general; to command; just now; nearly; to advance.TOCFL Level 4
  93. #93起qǐ·ㄑㄧˇTo rise, get up, stand up; to start, begin, initiate; to raise, lift; to appear, emerge; to recover, get better; to take out, fetch.TOCFL Level 2
  94. #94力lì·ㄌㄧˋPower; force; strength; ability; effort; influence; energy; to exert oneself; surname Li.TOCFL Level 3
  95. #95道dào·ㄉㄠˋroad; path; way; method; principle; truth; doctrine; skill; art; to say; classifier for long things, barriers, questions, commands, courses, steps.TOCFL Level 1
  96. #96高gāo·ㄍㄠTall; high; elevated; above average; superior; excellent; loud; expensive; old; surname Gao.TOCFL Novice 1
  97. #97主zhǔ·ㄓㄨˇOwner; master; host; leader; main; the person concerned; God; Lord; to indicate or signify; trump card.
  98. #98想xiǎng·ㄒㄧㄤˇTo think or consider; to want or desire to do something; to guess or suppose; to miss someone; to believe or feel that something is true.TOCFL Novice 1
  99. #99定dìng·ㄉㄧㄥˋTo fix or set something firmly; to make definite or certain; to calm or stabilize; to decide; to book or subscribe; to congeal.
  100. #100麼me·˙ㄇㄜExclamatory final particle; interrogative final particle; suffix forming interrogatives like 'what' or 'how'; tiny; insignificant.

Frequency is derived from the COCT 通用詞頻表, a traditional-script word-frequency corpus published by Taiwan's National Academy for Educational Research. The inventory is the Ministry of Education's 常用國字標準字體表 (4,808 characters), plus 166 more that our Taiwan word data attests — 4,974 in total, ranked together by real frequency. The same ranking is available as JSON for tutors and apps via the Taiwan Mandarin API.